The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 56
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 56
Bang!
The first explosion shook the forest.
It was loud enough to make my ears ring. The magical power that extended from Carlos’s hand blew away three assassins at once. Trees fell, and dust clouds rose up.
“Argh…!”
The assassins screamed as they tumbled about.
‘This is still manageable.’
Perhaps due to the magical formula Sion had left in my body, the pain wasn’t severe enough to kill me.
The only problem was that there were too many assassins.
Even as their comrade’s flesh burst before their eyes, the remaining assassins showed no signs of retreating. Instead, they charged even faster.
They were well-trained killers who didn’t fear death.
As Carlos swung his hand again, red magical power wrapped around his blade extended in all directions. Lingering traces of magical power remained along the trajectory of his swing.
Crackle, crackle.
“Kugh!”
“Urgh!”
Two assassins tumbled about, scattering blood. But taking advantage of that gap, another assassin attacked from the side. It was an organized movement. A tactic where one would sacrifice themselves while another struck.
Slash.
A blade grazed Carlos’s arm.
Carlos didn’t even blink. Instead, he grabbed that assassin’s neck and snapped it.
Crack.
The assassin fell with a dull sound.
“Kill the Grand Duke!”
Then someone shouted.
The assassins all charged at once.
Carlos readjusted his grip on his sword.
Magical power swirled around the blade. Intense heat spread in all directions. The nearby assassins instinctively stepped back.
“…Get lost.”
Bang!
As he swung his sword, a massive explosion occurred.
Shockwaves spread in all directions. Ancient trees that seemed hundreds of years old flew like paper. Five or six assassins were blown away at once and crashed into trees.
“…Kugh.”
At the same time, Carlos clutched his chest.
Cough.
Red droplets of blood fell to the ground. Bloodstains spread across the dark red earth.
“Now’s our chance!”
The assassins didn’t miss that opportunity. Swords flew from all directions.
Carlos gritted his teeth and drew up his magical power.
Crackle!
A magical barrier deflected the swords. The blades bounced off an invisible wall.
But the barrier also cracked. It couldn’t last long.
Even considering the magic Sion had cast, he was gradually being overwhelmed.
‘…There are too many of them.’
Even excluding the dead, more than twelve remained. No matter how skilled he was, it was overwhelming to face them all. If he had been in good condition, this number would have been nothing, but now was different.
Every time he used magical power, it felt like his internal organs were being torn apart.
‘…But I can’t just hand her over.’
Carlos wiped the blood and took his stance again.
Magical power rose along the blade. Like red flames.
* * *
My drowsy consciousness returned right after an explosion shook the carriage.
It took a few seconds to assess the situation after waking up. I opened my eyes at the sound of the explosion. The coat Carlos had covered me with had fallen onto my lap.
I could hear explosion sounds from outside. Screams too. The sound of things breaking as well.
Through the window, I could see Carlos. He was surrounded by people in black clothes, fighting them. Red magical power flashed repeatedly. Assassins were blown away, fell, and bled. The forest seemed to be burning.
‘…Assassins.’
It was just as Carlos had predicted. Since the direct approach didn’t work, they sent assassins.
My heart pounded like crazy. It felt like my chest would burst. My palms were sweating. It was hard to breathe. The air seemed to catch in my throat.
‘I knew the Emperor would do something, but I didn’t expect him to launch an attack so soon.’
Sion wasn’t here now either, so what should I do?
Meanwhile, another massive explosion occurred. Trees fell and the ground was gouged by Carlos’s magical power. Assassins were blown away.
It was overwhelming power.
The reputation of being the strongest magical power holder in the Empire wasn’t false.
‘But, right now…’
Then, I saw Carlos coughing up blood.
My heart sank. It felt like all the blood in my body turned cold.
‘…No. He’s used too much power.’
My hands trembled.
I had to do something. I had to help that person.
But what could I do?
I couldn’t use swordsmanship or magic. Just a thirteen-year-old body. A useless body that had grown up overprotected in the imperial palace.
All I had were memories from before my regression. There was no way I had the power to fight directly. Even if I knew a hundred methods in my head, my body couldn’t keep up.
I was powerless.
‘…Why can’t I even use my own body properly!’
I felt despair.
That person was bleeding because of me, and all I could do was watch. He was getting hurt like that trying to protect me, and there was no way I could help.
Then.
One assassin broke through Carlos’s defenses and came rushing out. His gaze was aimed directly at me inside the carriage.
My body froze.
‘No, I have to dodge!’
Even though I knew I had to dodge immediately, my legs wouldn’t move. My voice wouldn’t come out either. Fear dominated my entire body.
‘My legs, my legs feel frozen.’
A thirteen-year-old body was too young. Unlike my desperate mind, my body wouldn’t move as I thought.
In the end, I squeezed my eyes shut and reflexively curled up my body. It felt like I had returned to my childhood. Whenever something scary happened in the Imperial Palace, I would curl up like this. I couldn’t do anything. Not then, not now.
‘…I hate this!’
At that moment.
“Princess!”
I heard Carlos’s voice.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed.
But I felt no pain.
I opened my eyes.
A massive magical barrier was spread out in front of the carriage. A red curtain was enveloping the carriage.
And in front of it, Carlos was standing.
With a sword stuck in his back.
“…Grand Duke!”
Carlos slowly turned his head. A pale face. Blood at the corner of his mouth. But his eyes were still sharp.
“I’m fine.”
My throat choked up. Tears welled up. I looked at Carlos through my blurring vision.
Carlos raised his hand again.
Bang!
Intense light filled my vision, and the assassin was sent flying into a tree. He didn’t move after that.
Only then did Carlos pull out the sword stuck in his back.
Cough. He spat blood and turned toward the remaining assassins.
“…Insolent fools.”
Carlos’s eyes glowed coldly.
“Let’s end this.”
He raised his hand.
Massive magical power swirled. Red light dyed the entire forest. The forest, dark as night, blazed red. The shadows of the trees stretched long. It was like the flames of hell.
And then.
Bang!
My ears went numb and everything before my eyes turned white.
Silence descended.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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